Want to go, but not sure you can participate? Here are some helpful tips. As always, feel free to reach out to us directly with any questions at artpride@artpridenj.com or (609) 479-3377 ext. 305.

FAQs on Arts Advocacy Day:

I can’t attend both days. Which one should I choose? Tuesday. While we recommend attending both days to participate in Americans for the Arts’ advocate training and Nancy Hanks Lecture on Monday, April 16, we have had attendees arrive in Washington on Monday evening or Tuesday morning to participate in Tuesday’s legislative visits.

Are there ways to save money on the trip? Yes. Register byMarch 30 for the early registration rate. Additionally, you can save on housing by sharing a hotel room or staying with a friend in the area. We also recommend carpooling and public transportation. Round-trip tickets from Newark, Philadelphia and New York can be as low as $30 through some of the major bus companies like Bolt Bus and Megabus.

Am I allowed to advocate?Absolutely. Organizations that receive NJSCA or NEA funding are allowed to spend up to 25% of their budget on advocacy. Additionally, even if you are not the spokesperson for your organization, we encourage you to attend as a private citizen. This is a great opportunity for students and emerging arts leaders to take on a leadership role and learn more about this important aspect of the nonprofit arts field.

Tomorrow’s the big day! New Jersey Emerging Arts Leaders (NJEAL) will host their third annual Creative Conversation on Thursday, October 20 at Arts Council of Princeton—“Upwardly Mobile: Successful Relationships with Mentors and Supervisors in the Arts.” The event will begin at 7:00PM and include a panel discussion and networking after-party. To learn more about Creative Conversations or the New Jersey Emerging Arts Leaders, check out ArtPride Executive Director Ann Marie Miller’s recent post on the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Blog. Interested in attending? Click HERE for event information. RSVP on Facebook or email madelineorton@artpridenj.com.

Meet the panelists!

Sean BakerManager of the Annual Fund, League of American Orchestras
Sean is a fundraiser at the League of American Orchestras, where he interfaces with orchestra enthusiasts, concertgoers, staff, and trustees to gain support for the League’s programs and services that strengthen orchestras everywhere. Formally educated as an orchestral bassist, the study of music led Sean to festivals in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and earned him two degrees in performance from the University of Minnesota and Manhattan School of Music. Sean’s other interests include entrepreneurship, transhumanism, enjoying the outdoors, and geeky sci-fi stuff.

Tiffany Rea-FisherAssociate Artistic Director, Elisa Monte Dance
Tiffany Rea-Fisher received her BFA from SUNY Purchase. After graduation she performed with Compania de Dance, Spain; The Kevin Wynn Collection, NYC; Dance Anonymous, Cyprus; Abraham.in.Motion, NYC and The Brett Howard Dance Company, NYC. Ms. Rea-Fisher joined Elisa Monte Dance in 2004. She was named Dance Magazine’s “On the Rise” person for their 2007 August issue. Ms. Rea-Fisher began her administrative work for the company in 2007. In 2009 Tiffany was promoted to Associate Artistic Director, and has now also added the title of Director of Operations.

Kelly RymanDirector of Marketing and Public Relations, George Street Playhouse
Kelly has worked in marketing or press relations for more than 100 regional theatre productions, nearly half of which were either world or American premieres. At George Street Playhouse since 2000, she is particularly delighted to have been Marketing Director for the world premiere productions of nine plays by Arthur Laurents as well as The Toxic Avenger and The Spitfire Grill — both of which moved from GSP to New York City and have been performed around the world. Off-Broadway, Kelly was a member of the marketing team for the The Toxic Avenger, which won the 2009 Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical. She is regional chair of Jersey Arts Marketers, a board member of New Brunswick City Market, a member of the advisory board of Arts Plan NJ and serves on the marketing committee for The New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

I’ve just returned, reinvigorated (and a little jet-lagged…), from the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in San Diego. AFTA put together another great convention full of workshops, discussions, ARTventures and art, so there were many takeaways. Here were my top 5:

A placard at the San Diego Natural History Museum asking visitors to vote, based on brief descriptions and images, on the exhibit they are most interested in seeing at "The Nat."

3. As another attendee mentioned, there’s nothing quite like being surrounded by other arts administrators. Meeting people with a shared interest who come from completely different backgrounds is both bonding and eye-opening. The passions and challenges are similar and the ideas that accompany them can be inspiring.

Emerging Leaders Reception--Photograph by Jack Foster Mancilla

2. The importance of advocating for the arts can’t be stressed enough! Throughout the convention I heard many compelling arts advocacy success stories—one from right in San Diego! However, I heard just as many attendees admit they were not aware of the role arts advocacy plays in their communities or how they can help.

Here in New Jersey, you can get involved by simply becoming a member of ArtPride! Click HERE to learn more.

1. San Diego has some amazing art! And that’s what it’s all about, right?

Americans for the Arts has been selected as Hyundai’s designated nonprofit for a new Facebook Cause linked to their recent “Cure Compact Crampomitosis” advertising campaign. This means that through the end of March, Americans for the Arts will receive $.50 to help advocate for the arts & arts education for every person that joins the Cause, and if they reach 50,000 members, Americans for the Arts will receive the maximum $25,000 that Hyundai is offering. Hyundai is also matching any donations to A.F.T.A. made through the page, so be sure to visit http://apps.facebook.com/causes/570191 and support those who support the arts!

You believe in the power of the arts and the importance of arts education. You want your voice to be heard, but how do you reach lawmakers? Join us for National Arts Advocacy Day on April 4-5 hosted by Americans for the Arts and participate in advocacy workshops like “The ABCs of Meeting with Legislators,” “Advanced Federal Arts Policy Training” and “Facts and Figures to Make Your Case.” Learn about current policy issues, practice making your points with role playing demonstrations, and put your advocacy knowledge to good use meeting with your legislators on Capitol Hill.

Here’s a peek inside one of last year’s Arts Advocacy Day training sessions:

Advance registration ends on March 21, so be sure to secure your spot as soon as possible! To register or for more information, please email madelineorton@artpridenj.com or visit the Arts Advocacy Day registration page. Please email us as well to let us know that you will be a part of the New Jersey delegation.

Join the New Jersey delegation for National Arts Advocacy Day 2011! Hosted by Americans for the Arts in Washington D.C., the 24th annual Arts Advocacy Day is the only national event that brings together a broad cross section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts.

LEARN new ways to make the best case for the arts to decision-makers.

NETWORK with other attendees from your state and across the country.

BE HEARD by your members of Congress when you visit them to make the case for the arts and arts education.

Arts Advocacy Day is April 4-5 and advance registration ends on March 21, so be sure to secure your spot as soon as possible! To register or for more information, please email madelineorton@artpridenj.com or visit the Arts Advocacy Day registration page. Please email as well to inform us that you will be a part of this year’s New Jersey delegation.

On Thursday morning, June 24, 2010, I arrived at the Americans for the Arts Arts Education pre-conference. It was my first time at AFTA, so I arrived early and with a little apprehension. I met another attendee; we were the first to arrive. As we waited together we discussed why we came and what we hoped to get from the experience. By the time the pre-conference started, I had really made a new friend!

We received homework ahead of time. We were going to work on the seven identified trends in arts education. Jeanne Schulze of Jeanne Schulze & Associates and members of the AFTA Arts Education Council facilitated our World Cafe discussions. Jeanne asked us, “What can a student/constituency-centered arts education be in 2020?” I thought, “How could we accomplish that in two half-days? Where do we want to be?”